Clean up your act

Fenko MaTt is the brainchild of Medha Naniwadekar, an architect by profession who, together with other concerned likeminded residents of Hyderabad has resolved to deal with the ever-growing menace of littering and the attitude of entitlement that screams “Someone is being paid to clean up after me, therefore I must create filth.”

The team consists of volunteers of all ages, from school students like Nilaya Vaidya and young professionals like Omkaar to retired citizens like Vijaya Naidu, Shashi Musunuri and Leela Sishta with many more extending their valuable help and time.

So, what exactly does the team that wears their eye catching green jackets do on their campaign? They relentlessly target areas, for days or a few weeks, where littering is rampant, like roadside shops and market areas, bus and train stations, first observing and then educating, scolding, counseling,
threatening, complaining and going from door to door, vendor to vendor and commuter to commuter.
They also organise sensitisation programs for fraternity groups like construction workers, auto drivers and sanitation workers etc.

Another aim is to increase the volunteer base and build leadership in local areas towards anti littering, spreading the message of the dangers of trash specially plastics, ending up in our water bodies and drains, polluting and blocking them. This, apart from creating a downright unsightly mess!

It is heartening to note that the efforts of the team have been lauded by the GHMC Malkajgiri, whose officials, under the able guidance of their Commissioner Dr Janardhan Reddy, are quite proactive in working towards a ‘bin-free’ society. They have extended much needed support by issuing penalties to deter repeat offenders that sends a clear message to others around.

“Fenko MaTt” also recently participated in a massive clean up drive organised for World Environment Day, by Dr Janardhan Reddy, BT Srinivas of UFRWA, (United Federation Welfare Association), along with other groups like Plastic-free Hyderabad, where truckloads of plastic garbage was picked up from just one stretch of road near the Safilguda Bus Stop, hinting at the magnitude of the problem.

FenkO maTt has recently brought out a catchy song in Hindi & Telugu that highlights the motto of the group and it is soon being translated into other regional languages.

As Medha says, “People restrain themselves in throwing garbage in your house or compound because you would object to that, but public places are perfectly fine for most, as almost everyone turns a blind eye and does not object. So please do ‘OBJECT OBJECT OBJECT!’”

Team “Fenko MaTt” message is, “We appeal to people to start objecting on the spot, while coming across trash thrown outside any shop, or things being thrown out of vehicles or people littering the streets.”

“We need at least 8 lakh people in Hyderabad i.e. 1 in every 10 persons who would object to littering and throwing. Only then we will be able to eradicate this bad behaviour and get a decent environment.” says the socially responsible team. To do your bit for a clean neighborhood, join this team on Facebook.